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Welcome to the July edition of our quarterly newsletter.
As the lead of the PPT, I have the privilege of overseeing the project and ensuring that our goals are met through collaboration, stakeholder engagement, and timely delivery of key milestones.
We are developing a practical resource to enable National Statistical Offices (NSOs) to strengthen their country’s pandemic preparedness and support government response through evidence-based decision making and policy.
This is an exciting time for the project, as the ONS, alongside our partners in Argentina, Malawi, and Nepal, work together to shape the Toolkit ahead of its first testing phase, scheduled to begin in October 2025.
Interested in joining the first testing group? Visit the ‘Opportunities to Get Involved’ section below to register your interest.
In this edition, you’ll find highlights from our partner countries, and ways to engage with the PPT Global Network. We are happy to share what’s ahead and look forward to your continued involvement.
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Argentina kicks off its PPT Advisory Group
On 18 June, Argentina held the first PPT Advisory Group meeting.
Organised by the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses, Argentina (INDEC) and the Centre for Medical Education and Clinical Research (CEMIC), the virtual meeting brought together experts in public health, epidemiology, infectious diseases and statistics to present the project. It also provided the opportunity to discuss the draft protocol on public acceptability of epidemiological surveillance.
Mariano Poledo from INDEC and members of CEMIC shared the main objectives of the PPT Project, Argentina’s research approach, and the strategic role of the Advisory Group in this process.
Expert contributions provided valuable insights on local adaptation, sampling design, and data use, reinforcing the importance of co-creating effective solutions for future health emergencies.
This meeting marks a promising start for collaborative work in Argentina, guided by the commitment to strengthen public health through evidence-based decision-making.
 Members of Argentina's PPT Advisory Group meeting virtually for the first time
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Field research: Public Acceptability Study in Malawi
The NSO of Malawi, Public Health Institute of Malawi (PHIM) and Luke International (LIN) have been undertaking a Public Acceptability Study as part of efforts to strengthen community engagement in pandemic preparedness. The study targeted ten districts across the country, successfully gathering input from 1,188 participants. It provides a rich and diverse dataset that reflects a wide range of public views.
While the team faced numerous challenges - most notably the realities of developing infrastructure and the difficulty of reaching remote communities - they persevered and have now completed data collection. The study has entered the data analysis phase, which will inform a detailed report on findings and impact.
These insights will directly support the development of more responsive and community-aligned strategies within the Toolkit and beyond.
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 Field team on site for the study
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Community engagement in action during Malawi's study
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ONS visit to Malawi: strengthening Toolkit collaboration
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In May 2025, colleagues from the ONS visited Zomba and Lilongwe, Malawi, where they contributed to workshops and took part in the inaugural PPT Task Force meeting, alongside key national stakeholders.
This visit marked a major milestone in co-developing the Toolkit with country partners, helping to ensure it reflects local priorities and practical needs.
Reflecting on the visit Sarah Rafferty, International Stakeholder Engagement Lead at the ONS, shared; "It has been invaluable to meet with colleagues from LIN, the NSO of Malawi and PHIM in person. Our discussions on Units, LIN are developing, and the case studies and expertise where the NSO and PHIM could contribute, really drove the project forward. We’re looking forward to joining future task force meetings virtually and continuing to grow the stakeholder network in Malawi."
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 Malawi's PPT Task Force, Lilongwe, Malawi
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Event spotlight: 11th National Summit of Health and Population Scientists, Nepal
At this event which took place from 10-12 April 2025, Aavashana Dahal of HERD International (HERDi) delivered an insightful presentation titled, ‘Mapping Nepal’s Infectious Disease Surveillance: Systems, Stakeholders, and Challenges’.
Aavashana’s presentation highlighted opportunities to strengthen collaboration and alignment across existing surveillance systems for a more coordinated response. By mapping key systems and actors, the study calls for an integrated surveillance approach that leverages existing capacities, improves early warning, and ensures timely, data-driven public health action in Nepal.
The summit served as an interactive platform to advance research, foster innovation, and strengthen health systems against intersecting threats of climate, population, and health.
You can watch the presentation in full.
 Aavashana Dahal of HERDi, presenting at the Summit
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UK content
UK Unit development is currently underway, with PPT team members and other experts across the ONS actively engaged in creating and refining content. It is a busy and productive time, with contributors providing constructive feedback to ensure each Unit is clear, relevant, and actionable. Current Units in development include:
- Introduction to data visualisation
- Introduction to Reproducible Analytical Pipelines (RAPs)
- Stakeholder mapping methods
These foundational modules are being shaped through collaboration and include tailored training materials, case studies, and interactive tools designed to strengthen NSO pandemic preparedness and response.
Testers required
We are now ready to begin the first phase of Unit testing and are seeking volunteers from across our Global Network. This involves joining our Technical Advisory Group (TAG), an informal network of experts providing input on Toolkit content. To take part, please complete the registration form by Thursday, 7 August: Register your interest in the Technical Advisory Group (TAG).
Global Network sign-up
It is integral to the success of the project that the PPT Global Network grows and raises awareness of the Toolkit. Therefore, please share this newsletter with relevant colleagues and others in your network and they can sign-up to join the network.
PPT webpage
How collaboration can help us prepare for a pandemic | National Statistical National Statistical blog | Released 15 January 2025 Emma Rourke reflects on her time at the World Data Forum and emphasises the importance of collaboration in the PPT project and beyond.
Working across four continents to prepare ourselves for another pandemic National Statistical blog | Released 8 March 2024 Emma Rourke announces the PPT Pathfinder Partners: Argentina, Malawi, and Nepal.
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Contact
If you have any questions about the PPT project or any elements of this newsletter, please get in touch with ppt@ons.gov.uk.
This project is funded by Wellcome (Grant number 226596/Z/22/Z).
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